The Expendables 2: Randy Couture Brings Toll Road Back
"I had a hard time wrapping my head around Toll Road. Why Toll Road? Oh, because you're gonna pay trying to go through him," laughs Randy Couture. You'd think with such a tough character name and a legendary Mixed Martial Arts resume, he’d be menacing or maybe even intimidating in person. Instead, as I sat across the 6'1", 49 year old, I quickly realized he was perhaps the softest spoken and grounded Expendable in the hyper masculine bunch.
Having played Toll Road in the first installment, he recognizes the franchise's uniqueness, in terms of casting and retro action vibe. It was also clear that this time around, they would have to create something even more larger than life to satisfy the film’s eager fan base. Luckily, director Simon West ("Con Air", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") and Sylvester Stallone were able to collaborate at various junctions and juggle the enormity of the project with ease. "(West) had a very clear vision of how to capture everybody and what he wants to get on film in order to tell the story." While it was still Stallone’s baby, West was there to help man the ship and keep everything in order.
"We all have our own back stories," says the decorated former UFC champ. "Most importantly, we bring our own set of skills to this setting and we're all excited to be a part of this ensemble." Whether learned on movie sets, organized fights or the NFL, the skills each guy absorbed from their full contact pasts really brought out a sense of authenticity for the actors. “That’s the trick. Trying to find in your own stream of experiences, a way to tell the truth.”
Couture also stands proud of the accelerated humor and quirkiness that found its way to the story. For him, watching Arnold Schwarenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis poke fun at each other both on and off-set really made their characters come to life. "We recognized the tongue-in-cheek aspects, but also knew that the fans were going to be pleasantly surprised."
Despite doing his fair share of damage with guns and hand-to-hand combat, Couture’s biggest contribution to the film was his character sparking a late night debate about last meals. What conspired was both honest and hilarious and for Yu Nan’s character Maggie, incredibly innuendo filled. (She said she wanted Italian but was clear it was Stallone she really craved). While Toll Road kept it simple, “What’s wrong with cereal?” he pleaded, Couture stuck to a slightly more masculine classic, sure to be appreciated by the rest of his legendary co-stars and carnivores world wide. “Steak,” he shot back. “A nice ribeye please”.
The Expendables 2 hits the big screen this Friday, August 17th.
Having played Toll Road in the first installment, he recognizes the franchise's uniqueness, in terms of casting and retro action vibe. It was also clear that this time around, they would have to create something even more larger than life to satisfy the film’s eager fan base. Luckily, director Simon West ("Con Air", "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") and Sylvester Stallone were able to collaborate at various junctions and juggle the enormity of the project with ease. "(West) had a very clear vision of how to capture everybody and what he wants to get on film in order to tell the story." While it was still Stallone’s baby, West was there to help man the ship and keep everything in order.
"We all have our own back stories," says the decorated former UFC champ. "Most importantly, we bring our own set of skills to this setting and we're all excited to be a part of this ensemble." Whether learned on movie sets, organized fights or the NFL, the skills each guy absorbed from their full contact pasts really brought out a sense of authenticity for the actors. “That’s the trick. Trying to find in your own stream of experiences, a way to tell the truth.”
Couture also stands proud of the accelerated humor and quirkiness that found its way to the story. For him, watching Arnold Schwarenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis poke fun at each other both on and off-set really made their characters come to life. "We recognized the tongue-in-cheek aspects, but also knew that the fans were going to be pleasantly surprised."
Despite doing his fair share of damage with guns and hand-to-hand combat, Couture’s biggest contribution to the film was his character sparking a late night debate about last meals. What conspired was both honest and hilarious and for Yu Nan’s character Maggie, incredibly innuendo filled. (She said she wanted Italian but was clear it was Stallone she really craved). While Toll Road kept it simple, “What’s wrong with cereal?” he pleaded, Couture stuck to a slightly more masculine classic, sure to be appreciated by the rest of his legendary co-stars and carnivores world wide. “Steak,” he shot back. “A nice ribeye please”.
The Expendables 2 hits the big screen this Friday, August 17th.
Feed Source:
Gofobo Staff
Author:
Tristen Gacoscos
Date:
Array on
movie: The Expendables 2 2012
actor: Randy Couture